Seeking insightful perspectives on writing, dissertations, and projects in general.

Saturday, March 8, 2008

My 100th post

My previous post was my 100th in this blog.I know that in blogdom 100 posts is lightweight--some bloggers have been posting multiple times a day for years, piling up thousands of posts.At the same time, 100 posts also represents a not-inconsiderable output: one doesn't post 100 times without some sort of consistent effort (especially if your posts are more than just a line or two).

When I noticed that I had posted my 100th post, it made me think about the power of just sticking to it. My cumulative efforts with this blog have added up into a substantial collection of little pieces. But the effort expended never seemed particularly onerous at any time, because I was just doing a little bit each day. Sure, there were moments when it was difficult to get going, or to find something interesting to say (and it may be that most of what I wrote isn't interesting to the reader), but for the most part, the effort seemed light.

The same, really, is true of any project: we can stick to our consistent effort and get long-term results but that consistent effort, even if we don't work ourselves into crisis mode. By sticking to the project consistently, we can generate substantial returns over a period of time.

As a coach, using my knowledge of philosophy, psychology, cognitive science, and design theories and methods, I help scholars develop a writing practice that carries them through the difficulties of the writing process.

As an editor, I work to help writers express their ideas clearly, which sometimes calls for a high-level examination of content and structure, and other times for meticulous attention grammar and stylistic conventions.